Fuel supply apparatus for oil burners



Nov. 17, 1936. w. T. BRADBURY 2,051,133

I FUEL SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR OIL BURNERS Filed May 22, 1933 QOW/b/W fflradugy M Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITE 'l' i FlfiE FUEL SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR OIL BURNERS William T. Bradbury, Kankakee, 111., assignor to Florence Stove (lompany, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 22, 1933, Serial No. 672,209

2 Claims.

The invention pertains to a fuel supply apparatus for oil burners, and has more particular reference to the means for supplying fuel oil to burners of thetype employed in cook stoves or ranges and embodying burner bowls mounted in the fire box of the range, the fuel oil being supplied to the burner bowls for vaporization therein, under the control of a suitable valve device.

The'fuel supply apparatus now commonly employed in connection with such range burners consists of a supporting stand for an oil reservoir, usually in the form of a glass bottle, which is mounted in position above a sub-reservoir or well from which the fuel is delivered to the burner or burnersby pipe connections leading to the range. Furthermore, a separate valve stand is employed, having valve means interposed in the pipe connection for controlling the flow of fuel to the burners.

One object of my invention is to provide in a compact unitary structure of neat and attractive appearance, means for supporting and enclosing the supply tank or reservoir together with the valve mechanism and pipe connections leading from the well to the valve mechanism.

Another object is to reduce the fire hazard attending the use of such oil burning equipment by protecting the supply tank and oil well from external heat whether from the cooking appliance-or-from the direct rays of the sun. In this connection, it is observed that where the supply tank and oil reservoir are exposed to heat, a serious fire hazard often results due to the overflowing of oil from the well or from the burner bowls, on account of the expansion of the oil and air in the tank. Thus, Where the main source-of oil supply is kept in a relatively cool place, and the supply tank upon being replen ished is filled with relatively cool oil, the subsequent subjection of the tank to heat results in a very substantial expansion of the oil. Since the well and the burner bowls are relatively shallow, the amount of the overflow due to the expansion may be very substantial.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a fuel supply means combining in a unitary struc ture, the supply tank and oil well together with the valve means, thereby rendering it possible to complete the major portion of the necessary pipe connections at the factory and thus reducing to a minimum the labor of installation.

A further object is to provide a fuel supply structure of the character indicated, in which the supply tank and oil well are capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the height of the burner.

A further object is to provide a fuel supply apparatus embodying a supply tank and enclosing cabinet therefor in which the tank is arranged for easy and convenient removal from its operative position with respect to the oil well, and for replacement thereon.

The objects of the invention thus generally stated, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a cabinet with portions broken away to show the supply tank, oil well and pipe connections enclosed within the cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the cabinet and through the oil well, the tank and pipe connections being shown in elevation.

In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cabinet providing an enclosing chamber or compartment for the supply tank, valve device and associated parts. The cabinet is substantially rectangular in form having front and rear walls 3 and 1, relatively narrow side walls 5, and top and bottom walls 6 and l'. The front wall is provided in its upper portion with a relatively large opening closed by a suitably hinged door 8; and the cabinet is supported in elevated position above the floor by means of legs 9 having flanges ID at their lower ends adapted to be secured to the floor as by means of screws (not shown) for the purpose of maintaining the cabinet in a stationary position and not subject to movement in the event of collision.

Within the upper portion of the cabinet, laterally of the door opening, is a supply reservoir ll removably seated upon a sub-reservoir or oil well l2 which is mounted for vertical adjustment within the cabinet and connected with a fuel delivery means including a pipe I3 and a valve device having a fitting l6 mounted in the front wall of the cabinet below the door opening. From the fitting I 4 pipes 15 and I6 lead through one side wall 5 of the cabinet for connection with the range burners (not shown).

The reservoir H is preferably in the form of a cylindrical elongated tank made of sheet metal and equipped with angular shoes I? providing bearing shoulders for engagement with the upper edges of the well l2, thereby permitting the tank to be removably seated upon the well. Associated with the forward shoe I1 is a pair of depending lugs l8 forming laterally spaced angular bearing sockets for engagement with the forward edge of the oil well, thereby permitting the tank to be rolled into and out of position on the well.

The bottom of the tank H has an opening therein equipped with the usual valve device designated generally by the numeral l8 which device is opened as an incident to the placement of the tank into position on the well. The top of the tank is provided with a supporting bracket l9 providing a flat base upon which the tank may rest when the tank is removed from the cabinet for filling purposes.

The well 12 is in the form of an elongated shallow pan, also made of sheet metal, with one end somewhat deeper than the other to provide a sump 2E3. Centrally of the well the bottom wall thereof has a fiat portion 2| for engagement by a valve stem 22 forming part of the valve device lt for the purpose of maintaining the valve in open position when the tank is seated on the well. Connected to the bottom of the sump 2 0 is a fitting 23 from one side of which leads the fuel feed pipe 53. Within the sump the fitting is equipped with a suitable strainer 24.

To support the tank for vertical adjustment within the cabinet, I employ in this embodiment of the invention an arm 25 mounted upon an upright rod 26 which is secured to the rear wall of the cabinet substantially centrally thereof by means of suitable brackets 21 and 28, the latter serving to space the-rod slightly forwardly of the rear wall 4. The arm 25 is in the form of a plate having at its rear end a head 29 vertically apertured to receive slidably the rod 26, and provided with a set screw 36 for securing the arm in any desired position of vertical adjustment. The plate is made relatively wide and shaped to conform to the shape of the bottom of the oil well. As shown in Fig. 1, side flanges M are formed on the plate and at the corners formed by said flanges sheet metal clips 32 are suitably fastened. These clips are in turn secured to the bottom of the oil well as by spot welding.

The vertical adjustment of the oil well and the supply tank, notwithstanding the mounting of the valve fitting M on the front wall is permitted by coiling the pipe connection [3 on a vertical axis. The lower end of this pipe is connected to a rearward extension 33 of the valve fitting M, and the fuel delivery pipes i5 and iii are connected with upstanding extensions of the fitting at opposite ends thereof. Separate valves generally designated 34 and 35 respectively control the flow of oil to the burners through the pipes l5 and IS. These valves have operating handles projecting forwardly from the front wall of the cabinet, but the main body of the valve device is within the cabinet, the fitting being rigidly secured in position between clamping nuts 36.

For convenience in determining the quantity of fuel in the tank, the latter may be provided with a suitable gauge in one side as indicated at 3i, and this gauge is rendered visible by providing a slot 33 in the adjacent wall of the cabinet. In the present instance, the gauge 37 is disposed at the forward side of the tank H and the slot 38 is formed in the door 8, a glass plate 39 being preferably fitted into said slot.

Upon the inner vside of the door 8 a tube 40 may be provided to serve as a convenient holder for a torch lighter 4|.

It will be seen that I have provided a fuel supply apparatus for oil burners, which combines the supply tank, valve device and associated parts in a unitary structure including a cabinet of neat and attractive appearance for concealing the parts. While considerable effort has heretofore been expended for the purpose of improving the appearance of such apparatus, such efforts have not met with any substantial degree of success because of the very nature of the major elements necessary to be employed. By enclosing the same Within a cabinet not only is it possible to impart a neat and ornamental appearance to the structure, but a saving in floor space is effected by virtue of the compactness of the arrangement.

A further and important advantage in the enclosure of the supply tank and oil well is that they are protected from external heat, thus reducing the fire hazard as first above set-forth. Indeed, it has been found possible to place the improved structure in closer proximity to the stove or range with which it is associated than is possible in the case of an apparatus which is exposed to heat from the range.

Still another advantage is obtained from the construction and arrangement employed in that substantially less labor is required in making a burner installation. This is because the major pipe connections, namely, those between the oil well and the valve device may, because incorporated in the cabinet, be made at the factory.

Another feature of importance is the ease with which the supply tank may be inserted and withdrawn from its operative position in the cabinet. Since the tank is enclosed within the cabinet, it may be of the horizontal type which is capable of being rolled upon the forward edge of the oil well when the door is opened.

I claim as my invention:

1. A liquid fuel supply apparatus for oil burning stoves comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a side wall with an opening therein, an oil well mounted in said cabinet and having spaced upstanding side walls with one of said walls disposed adjacent the lower edge of said opening, and a fuel tank having spaced shoes thereon respectively engaging the upper edges of opposite side walls of the oil well, the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said opening constituting a bearing for engagement by one of said shoes on which said tank may be rocked into and out of said opening, said tank and well being shaped to permit such rocking movement of the tank.

2. A liquid fuel supply apparatus for oil burning stoves comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a side wall with an opening therein, an oil well mounted in said cabinet and having spaced upstanding side walls with one of said walls disposed adjacent the lower edge of said opening, and a fuel tank supported upon the upper edges of opposite side walls of the oil well, said tank having a bearing member on .one side, and the upper edge of the side wall adjacent said opening providing a bearing for engagement by said member on which said tank may be rocked into and out of said opening, said tank and well being shaped to permit such rocking movement of the tank.

WILLIAM T. BRADBURY. 

